M.E. in the media: new challenges for Jude and Beth

September 20, 2016

In the news this month are two women with M.E. celebrating their achievements. Jude Adams, who has lived with M.E. for seven years, has released her first album, supported by Arts Council England and a crowdfunding campaign.

“It was debilitating, but led to a lot of personal reflection, and ultimately the sliver lining of discovering a passion for songwriting,” says Jude of M.E. in the Canterbury Times.

Up in Scotland, Beth French talks about taking on the Oceans Seven challenge in the Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press. Beth became ill with M.E. when she was 10 years old. She remembers: “I had to relearn everything from walking to who I was and how to work my body."

We are enormously grateful to both Jude and Beth, who are supporting Action for M.E. by raising awareness and funds for our work.

Elsewhere, the Shropshire Star reports that a Telford woman who uses cannabis for pain relief is calling for it to be made widely available for medical use. The anonymous woman, who has a number of medical conditions including M.E., says, "The first time I tried it, my pain went from a 10 down to a one and I slept a whole night for the first time in weeks.

The woman said for up to six months she began consuming the drug in food, but stopped up to a month ago because she was concerned about the legal implications. If cannabis was legal and available I would take it. Because of the legal ramifications I don’t use it all the time, because I’m scared.”

The article highlights last week's report published by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform, which recommends that the drug be legalised for medical use following a major inquiry.